Binance poaches French financial regulator’s deputy general counsel

Binance has hired Stéphanie Cabossioras from France’s Autorité des Marchés Financiers (AMF) in the latest example of a crypto exchange poaching staff from a financial regulator. 

Cabossioras was the AMF’s deputy general counsel until March, according to her LinkedIn profile. She is listed as a speaker for Binance at the Paris Blockchain Week Summit on Wednesday, addressing the topic of “leveraging blockchain to prevent crime.” A Binance employee at the exchange’s conference stand confirmed to The Block that Cabossioras is now a Binance employee. 

The Block contacted Binance for comment but didn’t hear back by press time.

The appointment is the latest example of a crypto exchange poaching talent from a regulator as the industry attempts to engage with financial authorities. Just last week, Binance appointed Steven McWhirter, an official from the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority, as its global director of regulatory policy. 

Earlier in the day, Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao had unveiled a 100 million euro ($108 million) investment in France, saying the nation is “uniquely positioned to be the leader of this industry in Europe.”